EHM The Blue Line

I'm fairly sure SCARTs work with any format as it's just a connector lead However, it'll be black and white (if it'll work at all) if you plug NTSC into a PAL TV.

Man you backwards Brits need to wake up and smell the Century when it comes to TV

Hence the reason I buy all my stuff from UK.

I got this off ebay for £20. Played it a bit today and was quite impressed, although I need to get the EA update where they patched it slightly, reducing the unrealistic number of shots by both sides in a game, and generally slowing the pace a little. I like the skill stick a lot though.

I convinced him into getting a 360.

What platform you got it for Blackcats??

Also in installed we should have a game over live sometime and anyone else who has it for the 360.

Got it on 360 but I don't have Live at the moment and don't necessarily plan on getting it yet.
Trouble is, if I manually download the EA roster update and transfer it to memory card via the Datel Xchange kit, would it patch the game in the same way as if I had downloaded the file off Xbox live?

My take on the game so far:
the good: graphics, skill stick works well, puck physics, skating animations and feel is good, game atmosphere is pretty good, commentary ok

the bad: sometimes gameplay is slightly too fast, crowd atmosphere varies wildly-you can score a great goal at a crucial moment and there is no loud roar of approval, crowd figures don't leap up after a goal, a lot of goals come from goaltender mistakes (the puck gets stuck on their body and rolls in), no new Buffalo uniforms, goal horns don't last long enough-you get about 4 seconds of noise instead of about 15.

But overall a pretty good hockey game and fairly addictive.

How does it compare to NHL 2k6?

It's kinda hard to compare it to 2k6, simply because I haven't played that in a long while, and secondly because the use of the sticks for skating and the other as a hockey stick lends itself to a new feel for the game. I have to say I really like 07 now, having got used to the basic controls. The skating motion and feel is excellent, and the use of the right stick feels intuitive and is great on breakaways, as you feel you have control over everything. The nice thing is that you get real satisfaction from scoring any goal.


This is the key difference on next gen. In the past, everything felt computer guided, such as when the puck would be sucked into the goalie's body. Now it feels like anything is possible, and it is great to see the goaltender temporarily lose the puck before reaching down behind himself with the glove to clamp it to the ice.

I am very impressed I have to say, and with the new rosters I have just started using (http://forums.operationsports.com/vBull ... stcount=15), I have found a realistic style of gameplay to go with as well.

I realised also that I was unfair earlier when I criticised the crowd noise. Having played it again I realised that it is actually very accurate, and there are nice touches, such as when fans get noticeably more excited on a breakaway chance, or groan in disappointment when a chance is missed. Also, fans will be silenced if their team is being trounced, or will roar them on with enthusiasm if you are locked in a tight one.

The graphics help, the ice trails that follow your skater around, or the cut-scene breakaways, although these are rather repetitive after a while. The sounds are ace as well, although the Thorne/Clement commentary is not as varied as it was in 2k5.

Addictive too

If you have a 360 already and like Ice Hockey, definitely try it out for a few days.

I got it for the PC....but I have to say that Iam TOTALLY dissapointed with NHL 07!!!

Its an exact copy of NHL06!!!!

The rosters are totally out of date, the dynasty mode (the only one I use) is still unplayable and totally unrealistic, and the gameplay is exact the same as in last years game!!

I dont know how it is for the consoles (PS2 and XBox 360) but if u guys are thinking about to get it for the PC: simply dont get it!!!! Its a waste of money, believe me!!!

Greets

Well the 360 version was made by entirely different developers to the other format ones, so I can't comment on that.

One thing that annoys me about it at the moment is that it resets your settings when you change the difficulty setting before you play a match. Ridiculous.

On another note, my 360 is broke-it freezes on all the games and occassionally I get the lights of death. I am not sending it back to Microsoft cos it is too much hassle. I'll try to find a place in town that does repairs for it. Cos it is an old model I suspect that the thermal paste they used in the manufacturing of it has melted all over the CPU, causing it to overheat big time when you switch it on.

Useless Microsoft.

However interestingly in the last 2 days I have been able to play nhl 07 with no problems whatsoever, having moved the console into a different position and treating it like a god (not that I didn't before). I know that there are still big internal problems with it, but I was also comforted to note that Microsoft (realising they had put out a shoddy product) offers to repair them, and even collect the consoles from you, for free.
I am worried that they will find the excuse that as my console is an NTSC one in the UK they will be able to refuse a repair. If that happens they'll get an angry BC on the phone to them, and leaving nasty messages on Bill Gate's mobile.

Also, my copy of Oblivion arrived today, but I don't dare test run it yet

I actually really rate NHL 07. The more I play it the more I like it, especially when you use the right stick to deke an opponent, skate into the offensive zone, approach the goalie, flick the puck to your backhand and wrist it into the net past the flailing 'tender, making the net bulge and the water bottle fly off.

I really need to get back on this again. Not really had too much time for games last few weeks or so with having college assignments to do.

Im not doing too bad so far. I first had a go and got Stratton Whitaker or something like that. When I started a new Dynasty though I failed to sign him.

Will try again in a few seasons though. As he is only a youngster.

The game overall I think is great. I can't compare it to 06 as I never played that. Not played an NHL since megadrive days to be fair.

Yeah.

Have you encountered the dynasty progression glitch yet? Apparently all of your player's progression from the year gets wiped when you enter the next season. There is a sort of fix, but it is a bit of a hassle to do:

http://forums.xbox.com/8311805/ShowPost.aspx

No I have not got past a season yet. I rarely do on games. I try but only ever do about 1 or so. Will have a good sit down over xmas though and play it for hours.

One question. When I had a look on XBOX live I could not find anythign about a patch (or roster update) for NHL 07. Where did you get yours from??

I haven't got Live. Here is a link to an official EA update for the rosters, that supposedly patched the game when downloaded as well. Whether it would work as a patch when loaded up as a save I doubt. I use a Datel Transfer Kit to get saves from the net onto my memory card.

EA update for those without live:
http://forums.operationsports.com/vBull ... p?t=188161
(you may have to be a member to see this post)


Apparently these are the best rosters for it elsewhere. They include reorganised rosters and prospects are included. Or something. Read through the list to find the details:

http://forums.operationsports.com/vBull ... p?t=184726

Bare in mind that these might be files designed for the NTSC version of the game, which I have. They might not work with PAL versions.

Argh ok. At the moment I think it is fine and I don;t see anything wrong with it

I think I will get this game for PS2, or is ESPN 2k7 better?

The only down side with NHL is you can't have the British team. No European teams in the 360 what so ever. Hopefully an improvment on 08.

I would get NHL 07.

From what I have seen of 2k7 on next gen, it looks unimpressive. The graphics look dingy and current gen, certainly not the bright and detailed ones of EA's effort. I have to say, I have converted....

The only good thing about 2k7 compared to NHL07 is that 2K7's skating is much better. It's a lot smoother since it's there second game on 360 so they are used to working with it (not to mention it has always been better in that regard).

Besides that it's pretty awful.

Bc - did you ever find your MaxDrive?!

Yeah found it the other week buried away in a cardboard box under my bed. A bit late now, as I never play on my old Xbox since getting the 360.